Puritanism and The Scarlet Letter

Ms GerberEnglish 11 Honors

Understanding Context While our study of American literature hinges on the understanding that

history informs the narrative, it is important to clarify that this novel, set in Puritan society in 17th century New England, does not immediately comment on this period.

Rather Nathaniel Hawthorne use this primary setting to reflect the cultural, intellectual and philosophical climate of the period in which he was writing: America during the Romantic and Transcendental period. Still, it is fair to say that given Hawthorne’s own background we can very much infer that it is for the author, a dialogue with the past.

Recall how Playwright Arthur Miller also enlisted Puritan society to comment on his own times, drawing a parallel between the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials and the panic that took hold of America during McCarthyism.

Therefore, it is important we understand both periods to draw out themes and enduring understandings.

So the Question is …

Why Puritan New England? What about this period

supports Hawthorne’s themes?

What about the people? Their history? Their society? Their beliefs Their legacy?

Hawthorne’s Own Time

What about Hawthorne’s own time summoned such a brooding and fatalistic reflection on human nature? Is the novel a confirmation

or a repudiation of prevailing philosophy?

How does Hawthorne’s own personal history and beliefs appear in the novel?

How does the Puritan social and historical context add to Hawthorne’s thematic message?

Let’s Start with the Denizens of 17th Century New England The Puritans:

Wanted to reform their national church by eliminating every shred of Catholic influence

Attempted to “purify” the Church of England. They aimed to separate from the rituals and extravagance of the major denominations of Europe.

Practiced their faith with a fervor that alienated them from their neighbors

In a time when hatred and persecution existed between many denominations, every denomination in Europe hated and persecuted the Puritans.

In spirit, philosophy, practice, and culture, the Puritans had already separated from the majority population. In 1620, this separation became physical reality when they left for the New World to escape religious persecution.

Established the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

The Puritans

In the 1600s, Puritans settled on the East coast of the United States. They brought with them the hope of religious freedom.

The Puritans aimed to establish a sort of heaven on earth, a religious utopia for believers. At the same time, they were keenly aware that this experiment in theocracy was not a solitary pursuit. Puritan John Winthrop alerted Puritans to their duty in his 1632 sermon “A Model of Christian Charity”, saying

For we must consider that we shall be a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us....

Primary Setting: 17th Century New England

In essence, the Puritans faced a “crucible” even as they stepped foot upon the new land. If they followed God’s will, they would prosper, if they defied him, they would fail.

The idea of morality tied to survival and to the goals of a higher cause, created in Puritan society a sense of vigilance, a constant and uncompromising watch for signs of sin.

People were completely INTOLERANT of sin. They believed that any sin committed in the community would cause God’s wrath to be visited on them. An illness or misfortune would show God’s disapproval

Merging of Public and Private Life Puritans actually sought out sins

that had been committed in the community so that the sin could be brought out in the open and the members of the community could express their scorn for that sin.

So ultimately and ironically, instead of extending even an ounce of the tolerance denied them in England – rather than setting an example for the world - the Puritans became disparaging, nosey, rigid, even cruel in their estimation of others

The Puritans traded idealism for what they perceived as obedience and loyalty. They created a society that aimed to control, judge, and punish its citizens.

Puritan Beliefs

Puritan beliefs can be summed up in the acronym TULIP:

Total Depravity - through Adam and Eve's fall, every person is born sinful - concept of Original Sin.

Unconditional Election - God "saves" those he wishes - only a few are selected for salvation - concept of predestination.

Limited Atonement - Jesus died for the chosen only, not for everyone.

Irresistible Grace - God's grace is freely given, it cannot be earned or denied. Grace is defined as the saving and transfiguring power of God.

Perseverance of the "saints" - those elected by God have full power to interpret the will of God, and to live uprightly. If anyone rejects grace after feeling its power in his life, he will be going against the will of God - something impossible in Puritanism.

Essentially…

Puritanism can be perceived as a stern and uncompromising belief.

The central tenet is God’s supreme authority over human affairs

Man is corrupt and bent on doing evil Salvation comes through a developing

personal relationship with God Man’s purpose is to bring glory to

God in everything he does.

Secondary Setting: Hawthorne’s Time Nathaniel Nathaniel

Hawthorne (1804-Hawthorne (1804-1864) wrote during 1864) wrote during two important and two important and overlapping literary overlapping literary movements: movements:

RomanticismRomanticism TranscendentalismTranscendentalism

Romanticism

Return to natureReturn to nature Belief in goodness of Belief in goodness of

humanityhumanity Rediscovery of artist as Rediscovery of artist as

a supremely individual a supremely individual creatorcreator

Exaltation of the Exaltation of the senses and emotions senses and emotions over reason and over reason and intellectintellect

Transcendentalism

Boston-centered movement, Boston-centered movement, led by Ralph Waldo Emerson led by Ralph Waldo Emerson and practiced by Henry David and practiced by Henry David ThoreauThoreau

Man is the spiritual center of Man is the spiritual center of the universethe universe

The structure of the universe literally duplicates the structure of the individual self—all knowledge, therefore, begins with self-knowledge

Nature as a living mystery, full of signs - source of enlightenment and spirituality

Emphasis on individual choice Emphasis on individual choice and responsibilityand responsibility

Confirmation or Repudiation?

Hawthorne’s life and career straddled two periods that emphasized Optimism and Idealism The power of human intuition The innate divinity within all people The transcendent qualities to be found in nature The inherent goodness in all men

Hawthorne’s views, however, were opposed to those of the Transcendentalists and embraced instead the tenets of

ANTI-TRANSCENDENTALISM

This literary movement, whose members also included Herman Melville and Edgar Alan Poe: Focused on the limitations and destructiveness of the human spirit Hawthorne, in particular, held a “Puritanically dark view of human nature

and fate” Believed people are basically evil and apathetic to matters that don’t

affect them They felt nature is indifferent to mankind

It is vast and incomprehensible, a reflection of the struggle between good and evil

It is the creation and possession of God and it cannot be understood by human beings

Influences

Anti-Transcendentalist took their philosophical cues from the times. They remained discontented with circumstances in America (poverty/unjust and cruel treatment of factory workers, poor educational system, lack of women’s rights, slavery…) so they focused on moral dilemmas and society’s ills

Additionally, Hawthorne was driven by an obvious and powerful influence:

His Puritan Past

Hawthorne was raised in Salem, Massachusetts

One of his forefathers was Judge Hathorne, who presided over the Salem Witch Trials, 1692. (Recall Judge Hathorne from The Crucible)

The influences of Hawthorne's upbringing in Salem, Massachusetts and his rejection, guilt and conflict over his Puritan ancestry are evident in his literary works.

Many of his writings are expressions of Puritan ideals and the connection of those ideals with human nature.

A Dialogue with the Past

The Scarlet Letter shows Hawthorne both haunted and intrigued by his ancestors. He portrays Puritan society as self-righteous,

hypocritical and cruel, yet elevates the ideals and morality on which it was founded.

He confirms Total Depravity, or original sin, in his characters, yet insists on compassion for its victims.

A Point of Reference The introductory chapter to The Scarlet Letter is called “The Custom House”. It takes

place 200 years after the main story of Hester Prynne.

The “Custom House” is largely a semi-autobiographical sketch describing the life as an administrator of the Salem Custom House. It is a stand-alone section of the novel that resembles more a tract or a personal essay than an introduction to a piece of fiction, but it offers plenty of insights that will support the rest of The Scarlet Letter.

For one thing, we gain a sense of why the narrator feels the need to tell the story. As a man of youth and vigor, he feels somewhat at odds with the Puritan nature of his society. He himself seems to feel a deep resentment for the strict fidelity to rules and values that would deem his whole personality, and his ambition to write, as frivolous or even sinful.

The real drama comes when the narrator, bored and curious, wonders the upper floors of his work place and discovers a scarlet letter on a small piece of cloth along with the set of papers that become the foundation of his novel

The narrative technique of introducing a story at the beginning of a novel that sets the stage for a fictitious narrative (think Princess Bride) is called a frame story. This story within a story leads readers from the first story into the smaller one within it.

While You Read…

Take note of: The setting The narrator’s musings on rules The history of Salem The physical effects of the letter on the narrator The narrator’s reflections on his ancestors

What might we infer about the legacy of the Puritans from the condition of Salem as the story begins? In what way does the author draw a parallel

between himself and Hester Prynne?

Happy Reading

Please read the entire chapter of “The Custom House” this weekend.

Please actively engage with the novel by liberally annotating the text. Use Your “Reading Strategies” Handout to inform

your reading. Create a Reader’s Response for this chapter

(it’s okay to go over the one-page limit)